Renault, Dongfeng to start China production of EV in 2017

Renault's China-built EV will be based on the automaker's Fluence sedan, shown..

PARIS (Reuters) -- Renault and Chinese partner Dongfeng Motor will produce an electric car based on the French automaker’s Fluence sedan at a factory in Wuhan in 2017, Renault said in a statement on Monday.

The vehicle will only be sold in China, Renault said.

Renault trails other carmakers in China where it sold just 34,000 cars last year. This compares with rival PSA/Peugeot-Citroen, which sold 734,000.

Renault expects a big China boost through its joint venture with Dongfeng and has said it could sell eventually sell up to 800,000 vehicles a year in the market including imported and locally built cars.